British Academy publishes evidence from Born Global

Born Global is a resource for the languages community to use to help make the case for the importance and value of studying languages.

Born Global consists of quantitative and qualitative data on the complex relationship between language learning and employability. Each data set is accompanied by a booklet with background information and a summary of key findings. The data is open and free to use, it is available on the British Academy website.

The British Academy has used this evidence in a new publication Born Global: Implications for Higher Education. It offers reflections on the current state of play for languages at university, and can be downloaded from the British Academy website.

Born Global Chair, Richard Hardie, Senior Adviser to UBS in the UK, said:

“The British Academy is asking the language community to use this evidence to help make the case for the importance of languages, from teaching at primary school right through to university research. The evidence is compelling: analysis shows just how valuable language learning and intercultural experience are to young people taking their place in the modern, globalised market-place as well as to their personal development."

Commenting on the implications of Born Global for higher education in a British Academy blog, Professor Michael Worton, former Vice-Provost (International) of University College London, said:

“The challenge for the language sector now is to digest the findings, forecasts and recommendations of Born Global and to review curricula and ways of teaching and assessing. Furthermore, and crucially, university departments need to review and redefine their own identities and motivations and seek ways to maintain in a relationship of dynamic but ultimately creative interdependence the intrinsic and instrumental arguments for the study of languages. Maybe then, languages will claim their rightful place at the core of education for the modern world – and, finally, flourish again.”

For advice and support in using Born Global Evidence, please contact Joseph Buckley at the British Academy: j.buckley@britac.ac.uk

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